BibleGateway.com is a site I use to look up my bible verses and to cross reference things. I also subscribe to their daily thoughts but rarely have time to read them. The one yesterday caught my eye because of all the things I have been writing this week.

I personally feel like the climb has begun physically (Challenge 47) as I began my exercise program of a promise of at least 100 minutes a week. I am up to 40 min in the two days so far... and should exceed this weekly, but I up till now since last fall, I have done ZERO per week. Last year at this time I worked out almost an hour every day. I need to get back to that level.

When I wrote about the bridge yesterday and crossing the vast misty valley... it rang a bell in my head when I read about climbing the mountain in a swift glance to the morning mail out. They compared the getting to know Christ with the climbing of a mountain. When you are at the foot of the mountain your eyes cannot see very much. When you live in the valley of a mountain you are limited to what is there at ground level... you miss out on other things.

As you climb the first knoll of the mountain you can see a bit further and experience a bit more as your mind expands with the new views and all you are taking in. The higher you climb the more you see and your mind expands with thoughts.

The more you get to know Christ, the more you discover the beauty of His love. The heights and depths of His love are incomprehensible. (Yeah, remember that song, My love is deeper than the deepest ocean wider than a mile...etc).

"But who has ever gained the summit? Who has known all the heights and depths of the love of Christ which passes knowledge? Paul, when grown old, sitting grey-haired, shivering in a dungeon in Rome, could say with greater emphasis than we can, "I know whom I have believed" for each experience had been like the climbing of a hill, each trial had been like ascending another summit and his death seemed like gaining the top of the mountain, form which he could see the whole of the faithfulness and the love of him to whom he had committed his soul. Get thee up, dear friend, into the high mountain." Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon.

This painting of calla lilies was done completely with a painting knife. The paint is thick and has tons of texture. The sides of the canvas are painted too. The background is done in reds and siena. The painting comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. Email Barbara

Sometimes there is a long bridge ahead in life. The bridge is crossing over open deep gorges of things unknown that are lost in a dark mist. The bridge is so long you cannot see the land on the other side, and yet you have no choice but to move forward and cross the bridge. You are paralyzed in fear before you even begin with the first step.

How would you cross over? Easy answer for me who does not like to drive. If it were a driving situation I typically hit a bridge and go fast fast fast....I figure if I go slow the anguish and fear have longer to take hold of me... so it is easier to take a deep cleansing breath and increase my speed to cross knowing full well God is right beside me in the process.

But what if the bridge is soooo long that you cannot do that? Whether by foot or by the use of transportation...it is a 5 mile bridge.

In life there are always times and occurrences that loom before us like the unending bridge. We have no insight as to what is on the other side of the bridge and the alternative route of climbing through the rocks below and wading through dark foreboding streams is not acceptable. God has made it clear to us that our path is only on this bridge and it is only one way and there is no other choice left open to us. Things are out of our control, yet GOD is not out of our grasp. He is right there.

He will walk you across that bridge. He will carry you across that bridge. The importance is your acceptance to give up control and have total faith in the upcoming journey. He wants you to view it as something with possibilities and keep your mind open while you listen for His directions in your life. Don't assume anything. Be still and know that He is God. He is your protector, your strength and your guide as you make this crossing over.

Laurie

"He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Blooming Canna

16 x 30

oil

pallet knife﻿

I dedicate today's blog to my dear friend, Dawn(6/15/53-12/3/07). She has been gone from this earth 3 1/2 years. Our story began in eighth grade-1967. Our journey included crossover from hippies to cowgirls, marriages, children, careers, ups and downs but through it all...lasting friendship. All the many cliches and definitions of "friendship" were not a custom fit for our friendship. We defined our on brand. We loved each other, betrayed each other, leaned on each other, carried each other, pinched hit for each other, protected each other Often times it was one of us carrying the heavier load and making the effort. But, always making sure the other was o.k.

A circle never ends and neither does our friendship.

I miss you.

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverb 17:17 ﻿

Monday, June 13, 2011

The gorgeous chunky contemporary horse painting brings together all the elements in nature blurred about the horses as they run.I finished this painting too late to make the trip to Santa Fe so it is available from me right now. Email me if you are interested.

....you better get to livin, givin, don't forget to throw in a little forgiven.., and lovin on the way.....Don't sweat the small stuff, keep your chin up, just hang tough and if its gets too rough, fall on your knees and pray....And do that everyday then you'll get to livin...

Great words (almost) to Better Get to Living, a great song by Dolly Parton. As I listened to it during my morning walk, I thought how much truth to the words. With one exception....."if it gets too rough fall on your knees and pray".... why wait until it gets too rough to pray. Prayer is one of the most powerful ways to get your day started, to get through the tough times(and there will be tough times), to find the peace you seek, and praise the one who gave his all and is with us always. Why use prayer as your 911....only when there's an emergency?

Pray up....and store that strength...

Blessings and hugs,

Philippians 4:6-7

The Message (MSG)

6-7Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Here is the frame on the painting. A custom black wide frame. Absolutely gorgeous.

Who Are You?

We just returned from a break neck trip to Santa Fe to deliver 24 paintings for my Show in Denver in mid July. That is why I missed blogging yesterday as we drove home 11 hours straight.

Riding for long journeys and experiences from life give cause to reflection. I visited several galleries in Santa Fe since I had REAL work with me to share. I was offered representation at one gallery for sure and am truly excited about the possibilities. When you are 'on' for interviewing or selling yourself or your work it is draining. That is what caused the reflection and the writing of this blog this morning.

Who are you as an artist? Who are you as a person? The most challenging thing to accept for an artist is the reality of having to sell not just your artwork but yourself. You are a product entity in a whole.. you and your art. In this world of massive competition and struggle how do you stand out? What makes you unique? What makes your artwork unique that when viewed someone says, "Artist SO and So painted this" or "this is Artist So and So". You and your work are indivisible. Your work is your fingerprint in the art world.

Somewhere along the line if you are doing this right, the marketing part, you hit the wall and want to crawl slowly away from the heavy hitting and just create again. Retreat, renew and review where you are. Learn new things and play again. Rediscover a new voice inside of you.

Do you ever 'replay' incidents in your head and moan, 'Why did I say that?' Or think about ways you could have responded better to a conversation?

Several months ago I wrote about shields we all put up to guard ourselves from hurt. Those shields not only guard us (or we think they do) but they keep us from seeing in the mirror who we really are. Who are you?

When thinking about artists that I have meet over the past few years, most of us love each other as well as admire and respect each other. Jamie and Gretchen from New York that I meet last fall are probably two of the most genuine, giving, caring artists I have met. There was absolutely no shield in place; no protection or hiding or misrepresentation of who they were. Open, loving, welcoming, creative women. No agenda list. No expectations. Only genuine warmth and welcome to the Hudson River Valley. I believe they are both so passionate about their work that nothing else interferes with their creativity.

I literally stay running in circles between painting, marketing, wife-ing, grandmothering, mothering and back to promoting and helping close to 750 artist with their marketing, advertising etc. Who am I?

I know what am I, and that is tired! While I accept the responsibility to be professional and the need to be 'on', it gives me pause this time. Can I live the other way? Is that possible?

Is that not what is offered to us from God? Drop the shield and stop playing the games and over-working. What is it all for? What does it gain you in this lifetime or with Him? Why is it all necessary? Who are you?

On the way home in the car yesterday I begin to reflect on this. Who am I when I am not 'on'? My shield is so thick I cannot see around it to step back and view it from outside looking in.

Time to renew and reflect this week. Praising God for a good night's sleep. It was needed.

Laurie

"For the director of music. A psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” Psalm 19:1-2NIV

Monday, June 6, 2011

The song, Portrait by Freely, sings about 'being a living, breathing portrait of Christ, not religious commotion.....live like you're always serving"...beautiful words in a lovely song.

Often, when I want to paint, my mind isn't in the place it should be, lots of commotion going on in my space. I can always see the difference in the pieces where I'v put everything aside except the paints and canvas versus the times, I'm squeezing in some painting time. I try and "be still" and get spiritually prepared to let the paint take control and create a melody.

I hope whatever you are doing today, the commotion can be silenced long enough to get you prepared for your day.....God's word is a great place to escape commotion.

Blessings and hugs....

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10New International Version (NIV)

This is my first Magnolia of the year. I cut it off my tree and painted it. It is so sweet smelling. I just love them.This one is done oils and measures 10"x8" . It is available for purchase. 150.00BarbaraHavilandFineArt.comBarbara

My brain is having a time wrapping around that one. I entitled this painting Two on a Dead Run because of the energy of the horses trying to edge each other out. There is strength pitted against conflict in the composition of these two horses vying for the lead. They are both in a dead run almost like Terry describes Italian car racing... you are in the zone... you never look backwards.

Laurie

I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest -- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man." Proverbs 24:30-34

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Before being married, I lived in a cool three story town home in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta. It had a huge garage that I converted into my studio and I painted some great work there and used it as a place to try just about anything creative. I worked in clay and built small sculptures, had a screen printing press, and more. It was where I really felt most free to explore and make a total carefree mess. I would turn up my music and let my paint (and myself) dance with the canvas. We sold that townhouse yesterday! But even though there were great memories there, I am happy to step into this next chapter.

KJ, my 13 month old daughter, just learned to walk a couple of months ago. She was very timid at first, but now she is trying to run. For example, we used to carry her out to the car in the morning, but now she wants to walk on her own. I guess that's just the way life is. Sometimes it's hard to take those first steps, but then with God's guidance, we are able to run on to whatever his will has in store for us.

Stay tuned, as this door closes I am so excited about what the future holds. The study of this magnolia is another one of those steps. I have always loved photography, and I have tons of it. So I am exploring new ways to work with it. I enjoyed using water color to bring life to this flower. It's a work in progress, but so am I.